Feb 29, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (32) throws in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports Yes, sir, and even before we arrive at Opening Day, there are a plethora of betting opportunities to check out that can be followed all year. Here are my six baseball futures and prop wagers that you should absolutely consider (aside from the fact that I went 5-1 on my six such bets last year).
1. Gavin Williams, Cleveland Guardians: Over 129.5 Strikeouts (-120, DraftKings), Risking 4.8 units
Feeling like you’re playing catch-up the whole time in the process of competing against the most talented players in the world isn’t an ideal way to achieve success.
That’s the situation Gavin Williams found himself in last year after sustaining an injury to his pitching elbow in spring training. He began the season on the injured list and spent about the first half of the campaign there.
As Williams put it, he was never really able to get into a groove and went on to turn in a 3-10 record and 4.86 ERA for the season in 16 starts—not to mention a disappointing postseason debut against the Yankees. It was a far cry from when he debuted the prior year and crafted a 3.29 ERA in the same number of outings while impressively holding hitters to a .219 batting average against.
Based on how this year’s spring has played out, it would appear Williams is unquestionably in a groove, as he’s churned out a 2.08 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in five starts. Furthermore, he’s limited opponents to a puny .210/.269/.306 slash line.
One common denominator between Williams’ two big-league seasons is that he hasn’t had any issues racking up strikeouts. In 158 innings, Cleveland’s 2021 first-round draft pick amassed 160 K’s. This spring, he’s exhibited a tastier strikeout rate, punching out 26 batters in 17.1 innings.
Williams is armed with tremendous stuff and possesses the makings of a frontline pitcher about to blossom. Yet all we need is for him to reach a low benchmark of 130 strikeouts. If the 25-year-old simply stays mostly healthy, he will smash that amount.
